Bude to Widemouth Bay Walk
This coastal walk uses a lovely section of the South West Coast Path to take you from Bude to the beautiful Widemouth Bay. It's about a 3.5 mile walk from the town to the bay, using an undulating waymarked path. On the way there are some great viewpoints with fine views across Bude Bay.
The walk starts in Bude by crossing the canal and heading west to Bude Haven. The path then heads south to Compass Point where there are some interesting cliff formations.
You continue to Efford Beacon where you'll find a trig point and fine views back down to Bude.
The path then passes Upton and Philllp's point where there is a small nature reserve. From here you continue pass Salthouse before coming to Widemouth Bay. There's a lovely beach here and you can also enjoy refreshments at the excellent Beach House Hotel. The area around the bay is steeped in the smuggling history of times before, and not far south of Widemouth Bay can be found many little inlets and coves.
You can turn it into a longer circular walk by heading east to Helebridge where you can pick up the Bude Canal. You can then follow the easy waterside path north back into Bude. At the southern end of the canal there's the village of Marhamchurch where there's a noteworthy 14th century church to see. The circular walk from the village uses the shared cycle path running through the River Neet valley.
Bude to Widemouth Bay Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Bude to Widemouth Bay Walk Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Bude to Widemouth Bay Walk OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Bude to Widemouth Bay Walk Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Beach House Hotel at Widemouth is a gem of a place, with great food and an outdoor seating area on the beach. It was listed in the top 20 beachside bars & restaurants in the UK in The Times (2018). There's seafood & spices, chargrilled steaks & skewers, little dishes & sweet treats. You can find the bar right on the beach at postcode EX23 0AW.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
If you continue south along the coast path you can pick up the circular Crackington Haven Walk. It's another popular local area for walking with fine cliff top views and a nice beach. There's good facilities too with a car park and a beach-side pub with sea views. The walk also includes a visit to the historic Norman church at the little hamlet of St Gennys. You can also pick up the Boscastle to Crackington Haven Walk here. This takes you south to Boscastle, passing High Cliff, the highest point on the Cornish coast on the way.
The Bude to Sandymouth Circular Walk starts from the Summerleaze Beach car park and takes you to Sandy Mouth where you'll find a lovely National Trust beach, waterfalls and a nice cafe for refreshments.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Bude Haven. Looking north from the coast path across the beach at half-tide. The breakwater on the left protects the canal entrance to the right.
Compass Point, Bude. A sharp tongue of rock that has somehow escaped erosion, named presumably after the compass tower just out of shot to the right.
Trig point at Efford Beacon. Looking north along the coast with Bude on the right. Interesting to see a trig point right on the cliff edge. Unclear what the stone box on the left is for!
Footpath to Widemouth Bay
Joggers on coast path, Upton. The path and road both run along the cliff top here. This area of Phillips's Point includes a small nature reserve of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
Phillip's Point, beach and cliffs. View from the cliff edge by the coast path. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust describes their reserve here as "Magnificent vertical and slumping high cliffs with spectacular views to Hartland Point and Widemouth."
The Beach House Hotel in Widemouth Bay
Dunes at Widemouth Bay. The beach is backed by low dunes which have been converted into car parking space in places. Some attempts to prevent erosion have failed, probably because this beach is so popular.